Remote data protection in a networked storage computing environment
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for remote protection of data in a networked storage computing environment, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining whether to perform a remote data protection process based at least on whether a maximum number of snapshots has been exceeded and whether a previously created snapshot exists;
recording, by a processor, data and associated metadata at specific points-in-time based on policies that enforce both a recovery point objective (RPO) that defines a maximum time period in which loss of the data is allowed and a recovery time objective (RTO) that defines a duration of time in which the data must be restored after a disruption to a network attached storage appliance, wherein the network attached storage appliance is part of a storage cluster that provides computing storage services and offers a computing device access to a common set of data consolidated from a plurality of user systems;
copying the data and the associated metadata into backup files;
generating a data structure with pointers to the backup files, based on a schedule configured to achieve the RPO and the RTO, wherein the data structure with pointers to the backup files comprises a file path associated with a status and at least one of the pointers to the backup files, wherein the status indicates whether data at a location specified by the file path is newly created, has been modified since a previous backup copy was performed, or is unchanged since the previous backup copy was performed; and
transferring the backup files and the data structure to one or more backup locations for storage on an electronic storage device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for protecting and restoring data within a networked (e.g. cloud) storage computing environment through asynchronous replication and remote backup of data and its associated metadata. Under embodiments of the present invention, data backup and recovery functionality provides data backups by detecting incremental updates to the data and its associated metadata at specific points in time determined by policies. The policies are configurable based on user requirements. Multiple copies of the data backups can be made and stored in separate compressed files at backup/disaster recovery locations. The backups of data and its associated metadata, which includes file system configuration information can be used to restore the state of a computer file system to that of a given point-in-time. Accordingly, a data protection approach is disclosed for protecting data at both the file system level and application level.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for remote protection of data in a networked storage computing environment, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether to perform a remote data protection process based at least on whether a maximum number of snapshots has been exceeded and whether a previously created snapshot exists; recording, by a processor, data and associated metadata at specific points-in-time based on policies that enforce both a recovery point objective (RPO) that defines a maximum time period in which loss of the data is allowed and a recovery time objective (RTO) that defines a duration of time in which the data must be restored after a disruption to a network attached storage appliance, wherein the network attached storage appliance is part of a storage cluster that provides computing storage services and offers a computing device access to a common set of data consolidated from a plurality of user systems; copying the data and the associated metadata into backup files; generating a data structure with pointers to the backup files, based on a schedule configured to achieve the RPO and the RTO, wherein the data structure with pointers to the backup files comprises a file path associated with a status and at least one of the pointers to the backup files, wherein the status indicates whether data at a location specified by the file path is newly created, has been modified since a previous backup copy was performed, or is unchanged since the previous backup copy was performed; and transferring the backup files and the data structure to one or more backup locations for storage on an electronic storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for remote protection and restoration of data in a networked storage computing environment, the system comprising:
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a bus; a processor coupled to the bus; a memory medium coupled to the bus, the memory medium comprising instructions wherein the instructions are executed by the processor to; determine whether to perform a remote data protection process based at least on whether a maximum number of snapshots has been exceeded and whether a previously created snapshot exists; record data and associated metadata at specific points-in-time based on policies that enforce both a recovery point objective (RPO) that defines a maximum time period in which loss of the data is allowed and a recovery time objective (RTO) that defines a duration of time in which the data must be restored after a disruption to a network attached storage appliance, wherein the network attached storage appliance is part of a storage cluster that provides computing storage services and offers a computing device access to a common set of data consolidated from a plurality of user systems; copy the data and associated metadata into backup files; generate a data structure, based on a schedule configured to achieve the RPO and the RTO, wherein the data structure with pointers to the backup files comprises a file path associated with a status and at least one of the pointers to the backup files, wherein the status indicates whether data at a location specified by the file path is newly created, has been modified since a previous backup copy was performed, or is unchanged since the previous backup copy was performed; and transfer the backup files and the data structure to the one or more backup locations for storage on an electronic storage device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product for remote protection and restoration of data in a networked storage computing environment, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage media, and program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage media, the program instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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determine whether to perform a remote data protection process based at least on whether a maximum number of snapshots has been exceeded and whether a previously created snapshot exists; record data and associated metadata at specific points-in-time based on policies that enforce both a recovery point objective (RPO) that defines a maximum time period in which loss of the data is allowed and a recovery time objective (RTO) that defines a duration of time in which the data must be restored after a disruption to a network attached storage appliance, wherein the network attached storage appliance is part of a storage cluster that provides computing storage services and offers a computing device access to a common set of data consolidated from a plurality of user systems; copy the data and the associated metadata into backup files; generate a data structure with pointers to the backup files, based on a schedule configured to achieve the RPO and the RTO, wherein the data structure with pointers to the backup files comprises a file path associated with a status and at least one of the pointers to the backup files, wherein the status indicates whether data at a location specified by the file path is newly created, has been modified since a previous backup copy was performed, or is unchanged since the previous backup copy was performed; and transfer the backup files and the data structure to the one or more backup locations for storage on an electronic storage device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification